Today I had a small batch of green beans to get into the freezer and I thought of you. I thought maybe you might have a couple extra pounds of green beans that you don’t want to go to waste, too.
I really like frozen veggies—they are so great to have on hand in a pinch….and being that I don’t always plan my menus, I’m often in a pinch between 4 and 5pm! Here’s how I did mine:
1. First, start with fresh green beans like the ones pictured above. The more fresh they are, the better. If they are organic AND super fresh, you are stylin’. Also, put a soup pot (4 qt size is fine) about halfway filled with water on your stove, and let it work on coming to a boil while you are tending to your beans.
3. Once your water has come to a boil, drop a couple of handfuls of your cut green beans into the water to blanch for 3 minutes. Make sure you don’t put so many beans into the water that the water stops boiling. About 2 handfuls is fine. Go back to slicing your beans if need be.
5. Remove your paper/tea towel from the cookie sheet and spread your beans the best you can into one single layer. Freeze them right on the cookie sheet for a couple of hours, or until they are frozen through.
6. Package up your green beans in a plastic bag (or use a vacuum sealer), and store them in your freezer just like you would any store bought veggies. These are great steamed with a bit of garlic salt on them!
I think the only thing I do differently is plunge mine into an ice water bath (3 minutes boiling water, 3 minutes ice water).
I freeze a lot of veggies; broccoli, tomatoes, corn, green beans, eggplant, pureed squash, etc.
Thanks for sharing, Daisy! I have actually done the ice water with other veggies, but somehow didn’t think of it this time. They cooled pretty quickly, so I’m thinking it’s fine. If they aren’t, you bet I’ll be back here with a picture of some green beans soaking in ice water for 3 mins! LOL
It’s funny, but I hadn’t thought of doing my own frozen veggies, yet I’ve canned a ton of them. Silly huh?
I don’t can as much because it is so hot here. I can never find a place cool enough to store them. Freezer is easier in that regard. I love to can though!
You know what? I totally hear ya. It gets hot here too which means I can’t store things outside—and with a teeny house, that makes things difficult. We actually built a shed for me to keep my food storage, and I learned within a year or two that it wouldn’t work for me. Now it holds Christmas decorations, etc., lol.
How hot does it get at your place?